SECRETARY'S REPORT. 11 



of the most devoted zeal, but, owinir, perhaps, to the f^tate of 

 the times, to the fact that there was little or no disposition in 

 the community to examine the subject, or to a defective organ- 

 ization, they failed to excite any spirit of emulation in the 

 public mind. Not many years after their establishment, they 

 began to publish a small volume annually, for circulation among 

 the members. Of these volumes, those published by the 

 Massachusetts Society are deserving of special mention, as 

 containing many useful hints and valualdc suggestions. A list 

 of premiums was also offered. An exhibition was held at 

 Brighton, by the Massachusetts Society, and a ploughing match 

 instituted, not so much with the object of improving the 

 plough, as of trying the strength and docility of the oxen. 

 The plough-maker, it is true, happened to be there, and saw 

 the defects of it, and since that day an amount of scientific 

 knowledge has been brought to bear upon this implement 

 sufficient to bring it very near perfection. * 



The Kennebeck Agricultural Society was instituted at 

 Augusta in 1800, and incorporated in 1801. This was the 

 second society incorporated in Massachusetts, it being at that 

 time within the limits of this State. A voluntary Association 

 of the Middlesex Husbandmen, was formed in 1794, and 

 incorporated in 1803, under the name of the Western Society 



* The plough, at that time, was neai'ly the same as that which had been used a 

 century before. Its form and size showed but little ingenuity, and gave evidence 

 only of a sufficient supply of timber. According to the ideas of farming then 

 prevalent, it answered the purposes very well, however. It was generally thought 

 that manure ploughed in, could not be kept too near the surface. They supposed 

 it was dissolved by the rains and carried down beyond the reach of the roots of 

 plants. While such opinions were entertained, there was, of course, no inclination 

 to subsoil, or plough deep. Either would have subjected the experimenter to ridi- 

 cule, for his waste of muscle and manure. This theory of ploughing prevailed 

 very extensively ; indeed, so tenacious are the prejudices of men, that it is not yet 

 wholly abandoned, though long since given up by all intelligent farmers. As a 

 further e^'idence of the limited information of farmers, at a comparatively recent 

 period, we may refer to the fact that it is not more than forty years since many of 

 them made it a rule to sow turnip, and other seed, only in the " old of the moon ;" 

 and it was not till Arago had clearly demonstrated that the light of the moon had 

 no influence on vegetation, that this idea was wholly abandoned, even by scientific 

 men. It was believed, too, that the fertilizing power of gypsum was limited by 

 geographical lines, varying, not according to differences in soil, but according to 

 distance from the sea. 



